Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (2024)

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by Haley//March 14, 2018 (updated March 8, 2022)

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Shamrock St Patrick’s Day cookies are cut-out sugar cookies in the shape of shamrocks. They are dipped in chocolate and garnished with green sprinkles!

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (1)

Who here likes a classic cut-out sugar cookie? I certainly do for the primary reason that it is adaptable to any holiday. For St. Patrick’s Day I used my shamrock cookie cutter and green sprinkles for a festive treat! I wanted to keep things nice and simple for these sugar cookies.

I used my go-to sugar cookie recipe, which requires no chilling the dough. No time in the fridge means the cookies are ready to eat sooner! I like this sugar cookie recipe because it calls for confectioners’ sugar. It makes an ultra smooth dough and a melt-in-your-mouth cookie. When Halloween comes around, I use this same recipe for my cut out pumpkin cookies!

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (2)
Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (3)

Table of Contents

How to make shamrock cookies

Shamrock cookies are made with sugar cookie dough and green sprinkles. Sugar cookie dough ingredients include the following:

  • All purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter
  • Confectioners’ sugar
  • Eggs
  • Pure vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated.

Transfer the dough onto a floured work surface and roll the dough out until 1/4-inch thick. Use a shamrock cookie cutter to cut the dough. Bake on a parchment-lined cookie sheet at 400 F for 8 minutes.

Cookies are done when set. There should be no spreading with this recipe. The edges might be very light golden. Prepare the melted chocolate and sprinkles for decorating.

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (4)
Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (5)

Where to buy shamrock cookie cutter

I found my shamrock cookie cutter at a local chef store, but they also pop up in larger stores near St. Patrick’s Day. Try Target or Williams Sonoma. Shamrock cookie cutters can also be found online. Amazon has the exact same model I own. You can find it here.

How to decorate shamrock cookies

You can decorate shamrock cookies with green sprinkles. I used nonpareils, but green sugar sprinkles and mini shamrock sprinkles work well too. Royal icing is another option, which is how I decorate my snowflake cookies.

I also like melting chocolate and dipping cookies in chocolate. It helps sprinkles stick better. See more tips for melting chocolate.

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (6)

How to store sugar cookies

Sugar cookies may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. Baked cookies make also be frozen for up to a month.

Sugar cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost dough in the refrigerator before bringing to room temperature, rolling and baking. For more tips on sugar cookies, check out my recipe for easy cut-out sugar cookies.

Desserts for St. Patrick’s Day

If you’re baking for St. Patrick’s Day, try these dessert recipes!

Lucky Charms Cookies (quick and easy)
Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Frosting
Bailey’s Irish Cream Cookies
Bailey’s Chocolate Whoopie Pies
Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (11)

If you’re looking for an easy dessert recipe for St. Patrick’s Day, this is it. Sometimes I skip the chocolate and just add green sprinkles to the cookies before baking. Get your apron and rolling pin out and start baking these shamrock sugar cookies!

Be sure to tag @ifyougiveablondeakitchen if you make these cookies so I can see your baking creation. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (12)

Get the Recipe: Shamrock St Patrick’s Day Cookies

Yield: 24 Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 7 minutes mins

Total Time: 17 minutes mins

Shamrock St Patrick’s Day cookies are cut-out sugar cookies in the shape of shamrocks. They are dipped in chocolate and garnished with green sprinkles!

5 (22 ratings)

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Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups (312 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (two sticks or 226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 ½ cup (165 grams) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract , (or almond if preferred)
  • 1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon shortening
  • ¼ cup green sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

  • In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together softened butter and confectioners’ sugar. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat until thoroughly incorporated. Scrape down sides as necessary.

  • With mixer on low, slowly add flour mixture to the bowl. The dough is ready when most of it sticks to the paddle. When touched it, it has a little give, but does not stick to fingers.

  • Flour the work surface and roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick, using flour for dusting as necessary. Use a shamrock cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Place cookies on prepared baking sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Gather up scraps and reroll dough. Repeat until no dough remains.

  • In a double boiler (or a makeshift one), melt chocolate with shortening (see tips for melting chocolate here). Dip half of the cookie in the chocolate and place on a wire rack set over a cookie sheet (to catch the drips and sprinkles). Immediately add the green sprinkles on the chocolate. Wait for chocolate to set and then enjoy!

Notes

  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 203kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 78mg, Potassium: 96mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 250IU, Calcium: 25mg, Iron: 1mg

Author: Haley D Williams

Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Irish

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (13)

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Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make shamrock cookies without a cookie cutter? ›

Don't worry if you don't have a cookie-cutter shaped like a shamrock. It's very easy to make them with just a stencil made from cardboard. All you need to do is to make the stencil in a shamrock shape. Then, using a sharp knife, trace around the edges of the cookie dough after you roll it out.

What does the shamrock mean on St. Patrick's Day? ›

While trying to convert the Irish into Christians, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity with each leaf representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three leaves of a shamrock are also said to stand for faith, hope and love. A fourth leaf is where we get the luck from.

What is the symbol for Saint Patrick's Day? ›

Shamrocks—a three-leafed clover long associated with Ireland—are indelibly associated with St. Paddy's day.

What do I do if I dont have a cookie cutter? ›

Cut Freehand Shapes

Use a small, sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut any shape of cookie you like after rolling out the dough. If needed, use an aid to help cut specific shapes: Create a stencil out of cardboard or parchment, wax, or plain paper for simple shapes like hearts, shamrocks, eggs, and flowers.

What can I use instead of a cookie cutter? ›

A standard drinking glass with about a 3-inch opening is a great stand-in for cookie cutters.

Do you chill cookie dough before cookie cutters? ›

After you make the cookie dough, it must chill for 1–2 hours, and up to 2 days. Chilling is a mandatory step. Without chilling, these cookie cutter sugar cookies won't hold shape.

How to decorate shamrock cookies with royal icing? ›

Start by outlining shamrock cookie with white icing (piping consistency). Let the white outline crust for 5 minutes and then flood the cookie with green icing (15sec). Use a needle tool to distribute the icing evenly, (step 1-5). Immediately take white icing (15sec) and pipe white dots into the wet green royal icing.

Should I freeze sugar cookies before frosting? ›

Sugar cookies, like most cookies, can be frozen, but if you are planning to decorate your sugar cookies with frosting, freeze before decorating. As with most cookies, you can freeze sugar cookie dough or freeze baked sugar cookies.

Is shamrock a Catholic symbol? ›

The shamrock features in the emblem of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest and oldest Irish Catholic organisation.

What is the difference between a shamrock and a clover on St Patricks Day? ›

Shamrocks have three leaves and are the symbol of Ireland, while four-leaf clovers have four leaves and are believed to bring good luck. It's a simple distinction, but one that's worth knowing, especially if you're planning on celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

What is the traditional Irish meal for St. Patrick's Day? ›

We've all come to know and love the traditional Irish foods eaten on St. Patrick's Day. You know the menu: corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.

What color is bad luck on St. Patrick's Day? ›

While no one can confirm with certainty why wearing so much green became popular, there is a very good reason, according to the Irish, not to do so, Haggerty said. According to superstition, the color green was thought to bring bad luck because it was the favorite color of the fairy folk.

What is a good St. Patrick's Day saying? ›

"May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you." "Bless your little Irish heart and every other Irish part." "May luck be your friend in whatever you do, and may trouble be always a stranger to you."

What does the Irish phrase Erin go bra mean? ›

Patrick's Day, people turn to their dictionary to look up Erin go bragh, which means “Ireland forever.” The original Irish phrase was Erin go brách (or go bráth), which translates literally as “Ireland till doomsday.” It's an expression of loyalty and devotion that first appeared in English during the late 18th-century ...

How to make shaped cookies without cookie cutters? ›

For flat round cookies you can use a glass. Remember to flour the rollout surface to prevent sticking of the dough. For ball shaped cookies just shape with your floured hands. It is easier to use parchment paper instead of just putting the raw cookies onto the cookie sheet when putting into the oven.

How to make leaf cookies without cookie cutter? ›

Roll out a standard sugar cookie dough on a lightly floured surface. Take the cleaned and dried fallen leaves and place them directly onto the rolled-out cookie dough. While lightly pressing down on the leaves, trace their shapes with a sharp paring knife, working around the individual parts of the leaf.

How do you shape a cookie into a heart without a cookie cutter? ›

If you don't have a heart shaped cookie cutter, don't worry! To make heart shaped cookies without a cutter you need to shape the balls of cookie dough on the tray before resting and baking. You can then help them along during baking by using a teaspoon to press the edges and keep them in a heart shape.

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